Strip bottom tray



Nov. 15, 1966 R. B. SNOW STRIP BOTTOM TRAY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug.12, 1964 INVENTOR Randolph Bernard SNOW ATTORNEY Nov. 15, 1966 R. B.SNOW 3,285,399

STRIP BOTTOM TRAY Filed Aug. 12, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 K 521-? .v-.INVENTOR 2/3 222 b Randolph Bernard SNOW EIH IU United States Patent3,285,399 STRIP BOTTOM TRAY Randolph Bernard Snow, Chomedey, Quebec,Canada, assignor to J. C. Wilson, Limited, Montreal, Quebec, CanadaFiled Aug. 12, 196 Ser. No. 389,048 6 Claims. (Cl. 206-44) The presentinvention relates to the manufacture of collapsible display stands ortrays made from flexible paperboard or the like and more specifically toa collapsible display tray of this type made from a one-piece blank andwhich can be easily and quickly assembled.

In accordance with the invention, the basic blank utilized to make upthe present collapsible display trays consists essentially of aone-piece blank of flexible cardboard or paperboard of substantiallyoverall elongated rectangular outline scored or creased for foldingtransversely of its length so that it can be folded up into an uprightrectangular tray having interconnected front and side walls and a backwall having two interconnectable portions consisting of outer endportions of the blank shaped to provide interlocking tabs. A centralportion of the blank bears a longitudinal cut and diagonal fold linesmeeting the ends of this cut so that the upper section of this blankcentral portion is adapted to be folded inwardly of the above describedrectangular tray formation to provide at least a partial bottom panel orwall for the erected tray. This basic blank formation can be readilyvaried slightly to provide alternative tray constructions having thesame general upright surrounding walls but with varying bottorm panelsgiving a greater supporting surface. The resultant display trays thusproduced are particularly suited for the support and display of aplurality of articles packed in flat rectangular packages, for example,cigars, cigarettes, or the like.

Having thus generally described the nature of the invention, particularreference will be made to the accompanying drawings, showing by way ofexample preferred embodiments thereof, and in which:

FIGURE 1 is a view in perspective elevation of a preferred form of acollapsible display tray in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view showing the tray construction of FIGURE 1as it would appear when partially folded showing the direction of foldof the various portions.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of a blank from which the tray construction ofFIGURE 1 is made.

FIGURE 4 is a view in perspective elevation corresponding to FIGURE 1and showing an alternative construction embodying an extended bottompanel partially formed by a fold-in-tab from the front panel.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of the construction of FIGURE 4 alongthe line 5-5 to show the assembly more clearly.

FIGURE 6 is a view in plan of a blank from which the tray constructionof FIGURE 4 is made.

FIGURE 7 is a view in perspective elevation of a further alternativetray construction embodying a substantially complete botton panel, arecessed front panel and an adhesively secured bottom tab.

FIGURE 8 is a cross-sectional view of FIGURE 7 along the line 88.

FIGURE 9 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the constructionshown in FIGURE 8 as seen along the line 99.

FIGURE 10 is a view in plan of a blank shown in full lines from whichthe tray construction of FIGURE 7 is made: this and the blanks shown inFIGURES 3 and 6 would be modified as shown in broken lines when the backwall portions are to be interconnected adhesively.

Referring to the construction shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, the blank fromwhich this tray 15 is made is shown in FIGURE 3 and consists of aone-piece blank 10 of flexible paper-board which is shaped to have anoverall rectangular outline with an elongated central cut-out 13 andhaving at each end opposed locking tabs 12, 14. The blank 10 is scoredfor folding transversely of its length as indicated at 16a, 16b, 18a and18b to define back wall portions 21a, 21b, side walls 22a, 22b and afront wall 23. A longitudinally extending cut 24 is provided with theends of the cut 24 terminating at the ends of two diagonally placedscored fold lines 26a, 26b to define an inwardly folding bottom panel 28supported by side panels 30a, 30b extending from the uper edges of theside Walls 22a, 22b. As shown most clearly in FIGURE 2 to assemble thetray construction 15, the bottom wall panel 28 is pushed inwardly as theside walls 22a, 22b are folded inwardly and finally the back wallportions 21a, 21b are interconnected by interlocking the tabs 12, 14.Alternatively the back wall portions 21a, 21b can be modified as shownin FIG URE 10 and adhesively secured. The resultant rectangular shapedtray is then ready to receive several rectangular shaped packages, forexample, cigars or cigarettes for display purposes. As will be obvious,since there is no subsequent gluing or preassembly necessary, anydesired printing or advertising matter can readily be applied to theupper surface of the blank in the location desired for the assembledtray.

The construction shown in FIGURES 4 and 5 is quite similar to thatpreviously described with the difference, as shown in the blank shown inFIGURE 6, that the central portion of the one-piece blank 110 includes acutout 113 on the upper edge and a corresponding outstanding tab 113a onthe lower edge which is advantageous in saving board in the initialblanking out.

The cut-out 113 is of a reduced width relative to the cutout 13 in theconstruction of FIGURE 1 and the diagonal fold lines 126a, 1261)permitting the folding of the bottom panel 128 as before, but in thiscase, the bottom panel has extensions a, 130b, providing additionalsupporting surfaces. When the bottom panel 128 is folded inwardly andthe side walls 122a, 122k also folded inwardly the tab 113a is foldedunder the front wall 123 and sprung over the bottom panel 128 as shownin FIGURE 5. The back wall portions 121a, 121b are then interconnectedwith the locking tabs 112, 114 to complete the assembly.

The further alternative construction 215 shown in FIG- URE 7 is againsimilar with the difference, as shown in the blank 210 of FIGURE 10,that the central cuts 224a, 224b are separated and that there is nocentral cut-out similar to 13 and 113 in the previously describedconstructions. There is also a change in the shape of the outstandingtab 213. With this arrangement the bottom panel 228 is not separated atits front edge from the front wall 223 which now consists of two endportions 223a, 2231) with the centre portion open. This makes the bottompanel 228 substantially complete across the bottom of the tray as shownmost clearly in FIGURE 7.

When this blank is folded up by pushing the bottom panel 228 inwardly,folding the side walls 222a, 222b inwards, and finally folding the backwall portions inwardly and connecting them by the interlocking tabs 212,214, the tab 213 is folded under along the fold line 226 and isadhesively secured to the lower face of the bottom panel 228 toreinforce the relatively weak front wall 223.

As will be obvious by reference to the preceding description andaccompanying drawings, the collapsible tray constructions of FIGURES 1,4 and/ or 7 can be readily made in any desired dimensions to suit thesupport and display of many sizes of packaged products. The relativelysimple blanks as shown in FIGURES 3, 6 and 10 lend themselves readily toany desired proportional change while maintaining the same basicoutlines.

As indicated by broken lines 11, 111 and 211 in the blanks shown inFIGURES 3, 6 and 10, the interlocking end flaps 14, 114 and 214 can beeliminated and replaced by full panels having overlapping marginalportions which are adhesively secured to each other as an alternativemeans of completing the assemblies.

I claim:

1. A one-piece blank of flexible material adapted for erection into acollapsible display tray with upstanding interconnected back, side andfront walls defining a rectangular enclosure and at least a partialbottom wall panel extending between said side walls, said blank havingan overall substantially elongated rectangular outline and having alongitudinal margin which is straight for at least most of its lengthand defines the bottom of the enclosure and spaced therefrom by theheight of the side and back walls, a second longitudinal margin definingthe upper extremity of the said side and back walls, the blank beingcreased and scored transversely of and at spaced intervals along itslength to define said front, back and side walls with terminal portionsof said blank defining said back wall being shaped to provide oposedinterconnecting tabs, a central portion of said blank hearing at leastone longitudinally extending cut running parallel to said lower marginand defining the uper extremity of the front wall of the tray and spaceddiagonal fold lines extending from the upper margin of said blank tomeet the terminal ends of said cut, said cut extending beyond the foldlines defining the side edges of the front wall on each side by adistance equal to the distance between the cut and the said lowermargin, whereby when the blank is erected, the portion between the cutand the upper margin is adapted to be bent downwards at the diagonalfold lines and across at the transverse fold lines to form a bottompanel for the enclosure, the diagpnal fold lines forming a side wall topedge portion which slopes from a high back wall towards a low front wallhaving the upper front corner of the enclosure open and exposed to view.

2. A one-piece blank as claimed in claim 1 formed with a tab protrudingfrom the front wall region of said lower margin and joined to the restof the blank by a fold line which follows the remainder of the straightlower margin region and wherein there are two said cuts longitudinallyalignedand spaced, the inward extremities of said cuts terminating inextension cuts which turn towards the said straight margin to saidjoining fold line, whereby the erected tray has a central open gate inthe front wall.

3. A collapsible display tray construction, folded from paperboard andcomprising a rectangular enclosure having a pair of opposed centrallyinterconnected back wall portions constituting a back wall, side wallsjoined at folds to the back wall portions and a front wall joined atfolds to the side walls, the front wall being substantially lower thanthe back wall so as to leave the upper front corner of the enclosureopen and exposed to view, parallel portions on each side wall extendingdiagonally downwards, the diagonal portions being integrally connectedby a panel which is folded iiat down and against the inner sides of theside walls and across the bottom of the enclosure so as to form a bottompanel, the tray construction being formed from the one piece blank offlexible material, the blank having an overall substantially elongatedrectangular outline and having a longitudinal margin which is straightfor at least most of its length and spaced therefrom by the height ofthe side and back walls, a second longitudinal margin defining the upperextremity of the said side and back walls, the blank being creased andscored transversely of and at spaced intervals along its length todefine said front, back and side walls with terminal portions of saidblank defining said back wall being shapedto provide oposedinterconnecting tabs, a central portion of said blank hearing at leastone longitudinally extending cut running parallel to the straight regionof said lower margin and defining the upper extremity of the front wallof the tray, and spaced diagonal fold lines extending from the uppermargin of the blank to meet the terminal ends of said cut, said outextending beyond the fold lines defining the side edges of the frontwall on each side by a distance equal .to the distance between the cutand the said lower margin, whereby when the blank is erected, theportion between the cut and the upper margin is adapted to be bentdown-wards at the diagonal fold lines and across at the transverse foldlines to form a bottom panel for the enclosure, the diagonal fold linesforming a side wall top edge portion which slopes from the said highback wall towards the said low front wall.

4. A collapsible tray construction as claimed in claim 3 wherein theblank is cut to continue the diagonal fold lines in a straight line tothe level of the back wall portions, so that the major part of each sidewall slopes diagonally downwards.

5. A collapsible tray construction as claimed in claim 3 wherein thediagonal fold lines extend from the top of the back wall portionsdiagonally to the extremities of said cut, whereby the diagonal foldlines form the major part of the upper edge of the side walls of theenclosure.

6. A collapsible tray construction as claimed in claim 3 wherein thelower margin of the blank is formed with a tab protruding from the saidfront wall region and joined to the rest of the blank by a fold linewhich follows the remainder of the straight lower margin region andwhere- References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,249,4307/1941 Lambert 20644 2,654,470 10/ 1953 Broucki 20645.14 2,753,102 7/1956 Paige 229-52 2,801,754 8/1957 Dorfrnan 20645 THERON E. CONDON,Primary Examiner.

W. T. DIXSON, Assistant Examiner.

3. A COLLAPSIBLE DISPLAY TRAY CONSTRUCTION, FOLDED FROM PAPERBOARD ANDCOMPRISING A RECTANGULAR ENCLOSURE HAVING A PAIR OF OPPOSED CENTRALLYINTERCONNECTED BACK WALL PORTIONS CONSTITUTING A BACK WALL, SIDE WALLSJOINED AT FOLDS TO THE BACK WALL PORTIONS AND A FRONT WALL JOINED ATFOLDS TO THE SIDE WALLS, THE FRONT WALL BEING SUBSTANTIALLY LOWER THANTHE BACK WALL SO AS TO LEAVE THE UPPER FRONT CORNER OF THE ENCLOSUREOPEN AND EXPOSED TO VIEW, PARALLEL PORTIONS ON EACH SIDE WALL EXTENDINGDIAGONALLY DOWNWARDS, THE DIAGONAL PORTIONS BEING INTEGRALLY CONNECTEDBY A PANEL WHICH IS FOLDED FLAT DOWN AND AGAINST THE INNER SIDES OF THESIDE WALLS AND ACROSS THE BOTTOM OF THE ENCLOSURE SO AS TO FORM A BOTTOMPANEL, THE TRAY CONSTRUCTION BEING FORMED FROM THE ONE PIECE BLANK OFFLEXIBLE MATERIAL, THE BLANK HAVING AN OVERALL SUBSTANTIALLY ELONGATEDRECTANGULAR OUTLINE AND HAVING A LONGITUDINAL MARGIN WHICH IS STRAIGHTFOR AT LEAST MOST OF ITS LENGTH AND SPACED THEREFROM BY THE HEIGHT OFTHE SIDE AND BACK WALLS, A SECOND LONGITUDINAL MARGIN DEFINING THE UPPEREXTREMITY OF THE SAID SIDE AND BACK WALLS, THE BLANK BEING CREASED ANDSCORED TRANSVERSELY OF AND AT SPACED INTERVALS ALONG ITS LENGTH TODEFINE SAID FRONT, BACK AND SIDE WALLS WITH TERMINAL PORTIONS OF SAIDBLANK DEFINING SAID BACK WALL BEING SHAPED TO PROVIDE OPOSEDINTERCONNECTING TABS A CENTRAL PORTION OF SAID BLANK HEARING AT LEASTONE LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING CUT RUNNING PARALLEL TO THE STRAIGHT REGIONOF SAID LOWER MARGIN AND DEFINING THE UPPER EXTREMITY OF THE FRONT WALLOF THE TRAY, AND SPACED DIAGONAL FOLD LINES EXTENDING FROM THE UPPERMARGIN OF THE BLANK TO MEET THE TERMINAL ENDS OF SAID CUT, SAID CUTEXTENDING BEYOND THE FOLD LINES DEFINING THE SIDE EDGES OF THE FRONTWALL ON EACH SIDE BY A DISTANCE EQUAL TO THE DISTANCE BETWEEN THE CUTAND THE SAID LOWER MARGIN, WHEREBY WHEN THE BLANK IS ERECTED, THEPORTION BETWEEN THE CUT AND THE UPPER MARGIN IS ADAPTED TO BE BENTDOWNWARDS AT HE DIAGONAL FOLD LINES AND ACROSS AT THE TRANSVERSE FOLDLINES TO FORM A BOTTOM PANEL FOR THE ENCLOSURE, THE DIAGONAL FOLD LINESFORMING A SIDE WALL TOP EDGE PORTION WHICH SLOPES FROM THE SIDE HIGHBACK WALL TOWARDS THE SAID LOW FRONT WALL.